Sign holder



April 23, 1940.

T. T. STACK SIGN HOLDER Filed June 23, 1939 III.

' INVENTOR.' BYQeoa/f'e @75M ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 23, 1940 PATENT OFFICE ,SIGN HOLDER Theodore T. Stack, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Payne Products Co., Barrington, Ill., a firm Application June 23, 1939, Serial No. 280,739 4 Claims. (Cl. 40-140) This invention relates in general to a doublefaced sign and has more particular reference to a roadside, direction, or double-face sign in which letters,` gures or other characters are interb changeably placed for easily varying the designation on `the signs, `for oppositely disposing the characters on the opposite faces of the sign to read correctly from both direetions,and to provide means for quickly and rmly locking and hold- 10 'ing different letters or characters in the sign with provisions for releasing or interchanging the letters or characters if desired.

Further objects of the invention are to provide means for suitably supporting a sign; tcy pro- 15 vide a Jeweled reiiector for aiding in locating the sign from a distance; and to provide a one-piece frame structure in which a plurality of letters or characters may be placed interchangeably and releasably lockedin place so that they are not 20 easily removedexcept by the application `of a simple tool, in which case the letters or characters are easily loosened, inserted, removed and locked in place. u In the accompanying drawing illustrating a 25" preferred` embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2Iis a sectional View of the sign showing the structure and method of locking the letters 301' or characters in place; r

Fig. 3 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2 showing a single reflector; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailview as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 illustrating the application .3"5l of a tool to deflect the bendable edge.

In displaying directional or house number signs at the roadside or adjacent to a house or other premises, it is desirable to provide a substantial supporting frame, preferably of metal, which will 40 not 'be easily broken or disfigured and to which letters or characters may be easily applied, interchanged, and from which they may be removed without much trouble and without taking too much time, by someone having the proper tools,

45 letters and characters for making the signs and changes therein.

In the present invention the objections are overcome by providing a supporting metal frame with a fixed flange at one side and a dellectable 50 ilange at the other side adapted to be offset or set over against the edges of letters or characters by a suitable and simple tool for tightening the letters or characters against the opposite ilange and reversely for loosening the letters or charac- 55 ters when they are to be renewed or changed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a frame 5 is made of suitable metal or other material to provide an outer supporting rim 6 having approximately` rectangular dimensions with a central `,rectangular aperture 'l having a 5 fixed flange 8 at one side set off around the edge by a groove 9 andhaving` an opposite flange I0, the inner edge of which forms a continuation ofthe opening 1 with its outer edge formed by a groove Il. 10

At the top of the frame, preferably at the longitudinal center thereof is a rounded boss I2 for holding reflector buttons I3 at opposite sides thereof and these buttons may be colored so that when light from a headlight or a searchlight shines thereon, the colored or other reflection Will be visible for a long distance to aid in locating the sign. I

At the lower edge ofthe frame is a recessed p boss or projection I4 to receive a rod or support 20 I5 for supporting theframe in raised or any I other position, the frame being attached by` a set screw I6 or any other suitable fastening device.

If this frame is set up so that both sides are visible, from opposite directions, it will be necessary to reverse the letters or characters in the sign in order that the number or directions may be correctly read.

The frame herein shown is intended to receive four different characters longitudinally thereof and these characters each comprise an outer plate or mask Il with an under or lower reflector I8.l The reilectory may be a single plate extending the full length of the :frame with reflecting surfaces on both sides or separate pieces the same width as the character masks I1 may be provided; or separate thin plates I8 may be provided with outer reflecting surfaces placed oppositely between character plates I1 at opposite sides so that the same or dilerent characters will be presented at opposite sides of the frame, the shape of the mask determiningthe letter or character which is shown, and the reflecting surface making the letter or character clearly Visible in the daytime, and also at night when a light shines thereon.

In first applying the letters or character to the frame, the opposite mask Il and reflectors I8 are assembled in proper order and succession Within the opening 1 of the frame abutting the 50 fixed flange 8. When pressed together they are contained within the recess below the flange I 0 which being relatively thin and of soft metal is easily offset, deected or set over by a tool 20 in the nature of a flat chisel which is applied to the groove l0 and pounded or tapped to deflect the flange inwardly, engaging and gripping the edges @il the masks i1 and binding them iigiiiiy in the opening l.

To release the letters or characters from the frame the same instrument 20 is applied to the inner or opening edge of the flange I0 which is pressed outwardly by a sharp tap or blow with a hammer all along at least one inner edge of the ange, thereby releasing the edges of the letter or character mask Il and the reflectors I8.

if the letters and reflectors are made in. sections, one section may be removed and replaced ing the bendable flange as this portion of thek frame is usually made of soft metal or alloy containing lead or aluminum which will permit considerable deflection or offsetting without breaking. In practice no actual. bending or fracture of the metalv is necessary as the letter platesv and reflectors fit closely within the opening of the frame and only a small deflection of the frame is necessary.

This frame may be reused for different locations or for diiferent purposes, it being necessary only to change the letters or characters therein accordingly. Any desired signor number combination is easily made up to lorder which makes it unnecessary for a storekeeper to keep a stock of different signs on hand as any desired sign may be made up very quickly with the least possible effort. By making the outer mask plate l'l of dark or colo-red material and the reflecting plates i8 of bright refiectingmaterial, the desired letters or characters will be clearly outlined and shown either by day or by night and pleasing color combinations may be obtained by varying the colors of the plates and reflectors.

lt is obvious that various other changes may be made in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A double faced sign comprising a frame having an opening with a xed flange projecting inwardly at one side thereof, a plurality of sign characters adapted to be interchangeably seated in the opening against the flange and in layers to face reverse-ly at opposite sides of the frame, a bendable rim portion at they other side of the frame around the opening deectable inwardly against the edges of characters seated within the opening at that side for holding them against the characters at the other side and against the fixed flange and the outer faces of the characters being freely visible from opposite sides of the frame.'

2. A double faced sign comprising a 'frame `with an opening having an inwardly extending fiange at one side of the frame, a plurality of sign characters adjustable in the opening and facing reversely at opposite sides, a reflector interposed between sign characters at opposite sides of the frame, and a bendable rim portion at the other side-of the frame portion surrounding the opening and bendably offset inwardly against the edges of the sign characters for holding them and the reflector together against the flange: and within the opening.

3. A double faced changeable sign comprising a frame having an opening with a xed inward` flange around the opening at one side of the frame, character form-ing masksy adapted to be` seated in the opening at both sides of the frame,

a double reflector interposed between masks.l

visible from opposite sides of the frame, and a bendable rim at the other side of the opening deflected against the edges of the character masks to bind them together against the flange'` in the opening with the reector therebetween so that different characters will bepresentecl at opposite sides of the frame utilizing the same reflector.

4. A sign comprising a softv metal frame having an opening with an inwardly extending ange at one side and a thin marginal rim extending` around the opening at the other `side of theI frame, means at one side of the frame for supporting it in upright position so that both sides ofthe frame are visible, a plurality of sign character' masks insertabile in the opening to face oppositely at opposite sides of the sign, a reflector between the character masks at opposite sides of the sign and visible through theV openings in the masks,

at the other side of the frame, the rim also being de-ectable outwardly: to release the edges of the character masks for replacing and interchanging them.

THEODORE T. STACK. 

